First Plover's Egg found! (in the Garden of Adin)

First Plover's Egg found! (in the Garden of Adin)

The sign of springtime!

ANTWERP, March 28 (Reuters) - In Friesland, the Northern part of Holland, it is an old tradition to offer the first found plover's egg in the springtime to the Queen. This first found egg (called in Dutch: "eerste kievitsei") is a symbol for the beginning of the springtime. So, still today although forbidden in the rest of Europe but allowed in Friesland on cultural historical grounds, people hunt for the first egg.

The Gardener of Adin, not aware of this yearly contest, stumbled upon a nest full of eggs when weeding the Garden of Adin, becoming the unintentional winner of this folkloric event.

Click the picture to see the Plover's Egg in all its glory.

Antiqualy yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be

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Gemstone Meanings

In ancient times, gemstone meanings were ascribed to the influence the planets had on certain gems which in turn, could transmit the powers attributed to those planets to the person holding or wearing that stone.

For couples today who wish to create a ring with personal significance an antique gemstone engagement ring can offer a unique way to do just that, by selecting a gem with the appropriate gemstone meanings.

There is no doubt that the lady born in September, who wears a gemstone engagement ring set with sapphire gemstones, possesses something more intimately associated with her personality.

From: www.antique-jewelry-investor.com

Read more about gemstones meanings.

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A Very Female View of Ironman

... Look, honey, go buy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Marilyn Monroe. She sings "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". One should try and learn from one's elders, Gwen. There is much wisdom in that song! Watch that movie several times until you fully grasp the concept.

Instead of buying that dress as your boss's birthday present to you, you should have bought jewelry. I'm not sure I would advise diamonds because Russia has enough diamonds to flood the world's market and drive the price of diamonds down to amethyst if DeBeers cannot keep a tight grip on them.

And don't go for the colored stones either because you never know when the stone's color has been enhanced by technology.

Go for good quality antique jewelry, emphasizing the artistry of the sculpture and design...

Excerpt from "A Very Female View of Ironman"

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Protecting & cleaning jewelry increases the value

Cleaning Jewelry and protecting your fine Antique Jewelry and estate jewelry by storing it in the best possible condition, makes it more sought after and therefore more valuable. However cleaning fine jewelry is fraught with danger especially for the over-enthusiastic new collector.

Some of the cleaning jewelry tips on this page are from the book, by Judith Miller,"How To Make Money Out Of Antiques", 1995.

AMBER
Gently wash in warm soapy water. Thoroughly rinsed and dried. wipe on a little olive oil with cotton wool, then wipe off.

AQUAMARINE
Cleaning jewelry with aquamarine involves gently washing the stones with tepid soapy water, then rinse and dry.

CAMEOS
Clean Cameo jewelry by first removing grease with a small artist's brush dipped in white spirit. Then brush over the affected area with a solution of warm soapy water plus a couple of drops of ammonia. Rinse by brushing on clean water, before drying with a piece of chamois leather.

CORAL
Remove grime with cotton buds dipped in a solution of warm water plus a little detergent. remove stubborn deposits with a paste of crocus powder and water, again gently applied with a cotton bud. Finally, when cleaning jewelry with real coral rinse with clean water.

DIAMONDS
Wash in warm soapy water removing stubborn grease and grime by brushing on a little methylated spirits and ammonia.

EMERALDS
Gently wash in a solution of warm soapy water and a few drops of ammonia.

IVORY
Wipe down with a soft sloth moistened with warm water and a little detergent. The wipe with clean water and dry thoroughly. Finally, wipe on a little almond oil and leave for a couple of minutes and wipe off.

JADE
Clean with a soft cloth moistened with warm soapy water and a couple of drops of ammonia.

JET
Clean by gently rubbing with pieces of fresh bread. This unusual method really brings out the shine!

OPALS
Clean opal jewelry with cotton buds dipped in warm, soapy water. Rinse, applying clean water with cotton buds dry.

PEARLS
Cleaning pearls is a subject in itself. Click here for cleaning and caring of Pearls.

RUBY - RUBIES
Clean ruby jewelry by gently rubbing with cotton wool bud dipped in warm soapy water. Then rinse and dry thoroughly, before lightly wiping down with a piece of chamois leather moistened with alcohol.

SAPPHIRES
Clean in the same way as Rubies (above).

TORTOISESHELL
Build Your Own Website! Wash with warm soapy water, rise and dry thoroughly. Then, either apply a fine, white wax polish or wipe on a little almond oil.

TURQUOISE
Clean with a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirits.


Read more in our Antique Jewelry Glossary

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Original Art Deco platinum engagement ring with cushion cut diamond and sapphires

"Oh darling, you do not have to buy me a big present for Christmas!"
(there are small precious things at Adin too)

(you can click the picture to get to its descriptive page)

A touch of history ... Original Art Deco platinum engagement ring with cushion cut diamond and sapphires.

Art Deco diamond ring (circa 1920) starring in its center a 0.75 carat Old European cushion cut diamond, bezel set in a geometric setting highlighted by four calibre triangle cut sapphires and 12 sparkling diamonds (four old mine cut and eight single cut) bordered by calibre carre cut sapphires. The shoulders of the ring feature another eight single cut diamonds. This ring is not only a beauty to look at from the top but its backside is also worth to look at, deliciously handcrafted in a most elegant way.

Object group: rings
Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe it is of Dutch origin.
Style: Art Deco- (styles overview)
Style specifics: Abstract motives and geometrical forms are quite typical for the Art Deco period.
Period: ca. 1920 (events and facts in 1920)
Material: platinum and 14K (shenk) - (precious metals)
Extra information: engagement ring - An engagement ring is a finger ring of no generally accepted form that is given by a man to his fiancée as a token of marriage engagement, in the manner of the earlier betrothal ring, and indistinguishable in form or style. In recent years such rings have normally been set with a gemstone, usually a diamond (or any stone other than the ill-reputed opal), as a solitaire, of varying sizes, cuts, styles, and cost, but in the 19th century some were set with a pearl. In the same century the custom arose in England of separate engagement ring and wedding ring, and in very recent years such rings have sometimes been made en suite as a matching pair of similar style.
Diamonds: One old mine brilliant cut diamond with an estimated weight of approx. 0.75 crt. (color approx. H/I, clarity approx. i), four old mine brilliant cut diamonds with a total estimated weight of approx. 0.24 crt. And 14 single brilliant cut diamonds (also called 8/8) with a total estimated weight of approx. 0.26 crt.
Total diamond weight: approx. 1.25 crt.
Precious stones: fancy cut (carre and triangle-ish) natural sapphires - (precious stones)
Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April and sapphire for September. - (general birthstones explanation)
Hallmarks: No trace. - (general hallmarks info)
Condition: excellent condition - (our condition scale)
Weight: 3.40 gram (2.19 dwt)
Ring size Continental: 53 & 17 , Size S 6¼ , Size UK: M
Resizing: It is our pleasure to resize the ring for you (if needed) at our expense. Only for extreme resizing we have to charge. - (list ring sizes)

Reference Nº: 08269-1004

See also our:
art deco rings engagement, art deco rings, art deco jewelry, engagement rings, all our rings or our latest acquisitions.

Or have a look at our jewelry with birthstones (or month stones) for:
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November or December.

Additional information: jewelry glossary - wall of fame - visit us in Antwerp - subscribe to our mailinglist.

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Birthstones and monthstones

(you can click the picture to get to its descriptive page)

Birthstones and monthstones

Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist traditions mingled with Pagan legends led to the association of certain stones with different months, astrological signs, Tribes of Israel and Apostles but also with healing powers for social, physological, metaphysical and even medical conditions. Not that we necessarily promote or believe such claims, but we think they can make for an interesting conversation.

In the 18th century the relationship of stones with months was popularized but it was based mainly on the colours of the stones. Owing to the fact that several stones have the same colours, confusion resulted, so that in 1937 the National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain established a uniform list (with some alternatives for the more costly stones).

January:	garnet
February:	amethyst
March:	aquamarine and jasper
April:	diamond and rock crystal
May:	emerald and chrysoprase
June:	pearl and moonstone
July:	ruby, cornelian and onyx
August:	peridot and sardonyx
September:	sapphire and lapis lazuli
October:	opal and tourmaline
November:	topaz and citrine
December:	turquoise

See also our:
deeper information on birth and monthstones
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

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Emeralds

The word "emerald" was derived from French "esmeraude" which in turn goes back via Latin to the Greek root "smaragdos", meaning simply "green gemstone". The ancient Incas and Aztecs, in South America where the best emeralds are still found today, worshipped them as a holy stone. However, probably the most ancient occurrences which were known are located near the Red Sea where mines were already exploited by Egyptian Pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 B.C.. The mines gained fame under he name of "Cleopatra's Mines", but were already exhausted when they were rediscovered.

What is surprising with emeralds is that, in spite of the beauty of the green they feature, inclusions are allowed, and nevertheless, in top qualities fine emerald are even more valuable than diamonds. Large emeralds with no inclusions and of the better color are so rare that if you had one it would be more expensive than a diamond. Therefore most emeralds will have inclusions - traces of an active history of origin characterising the gemstone. Fine inclusions, after all, do not diminish the value; on the contrary. An emerald of deep, vivid green with inclusions will be valued higher than an inclusion-free stone of paler color. Almost endearingly, experts call the many crystal inclusions or fissures which are so typical for this gemstone a "jardin" (meaning "garden" in French). The tender green plant-like structures in the emerald garden are considered as identifying characteristics of a naturally grown emerald.

Many centuries ago in the Veda, the ancient sacred writings of Hinduism, there was written down information on the valuable green gemstones and their healing power: "emeralds promise good luck", or "The emerald enhances your well-being". It does not come as a surprise, then, that the treasure chests of Indian Maharajas and Maharanis contained most wonderful emeralds. One of the largest emeralds in the world is the "Mogul Emerald". It goes back to the year 1695, weighs 217.80 carats and is about 10 cm high. One side is inscribed with prayers, on the other side there are engraved opulent flower ornaments. The legendary emerald was auctioned off at Christie's of London for 2.2 million US dollars to an anonymous buyer.

Emeralds have been coveted ever since ancient times. Some of the most famous emeralds can therefore be admired in museums and collections. For example, The New York Museum of Natural History not only shows a cup from pure emerald which was owned by Emperor Jehingar, but also a Colombian emerald crystal weighing 632 carats. The collection owned by the Bank of Bogota contains no less than five valuable emerald crystals weighing between 220 and 1796 carats. Also in the Irani State Treasure there are guarded some wonderful emeralds, among them the tiara of ex-Empress Farah.

Emerald's reported healing properties:

• guards against poison and venomous bites
• cures epilepsy
• induces fertility and prevents abortions
• heals and relaxes the eyes
• helps with stomach disorders, such as dysentery
• induces sleep
• aids in leprosy wounds

Emerald's reported power properties:

• protection against demoniacal possession
• increase brain powers
• provide clairvoyance
• mental clarity
• strengthen love and fidelity

See some antique jewelry with emeralds

More information on precious stones and their healing and power properties.

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